Since you need to dry the leaves first, I used my earlier method of ironing the leaves between sheets of waxed paper.

Ironing the leaves promptly after picking them really helps them retain a lot of their color.

The leaves will still be somewhat fragile, but much more durable than when you do nothing to them. Here’s how to preserve fall leaves so you can enjoy their color much longer.

What You Need

Iron

Waxed Paper

Mod Podge

Sponge Brush

What You Do

1. Heat your iron to the Cotton setting.

2. On a hard surface, lay out an old cotton sheet folded into several layers.

3. Lay a piece of waxed paper on the sheet and lay out your leaves in a single layer with a little space between them to allow them to spread as they’re flattened.

4. Put a second piece of waxed paper over the leaves, being careful not to move them too much.

5. Set the iron down on the leaves in one corner, lifting the iron up to move it. Leave the iron on the leaves long enough to allow the wax to melt into the leaves – a few seconds.

6. After you’ve done all the leaves, carefully turn the waxed paper sandwich over and iron the other side.

7. I turned the sandwich back over and ironed the first side again, making sure each leaf was well ironed and the wax was completely melted off the paper and onto the leaves.

You can’t really see the wax on the leaves, but if you used a hot iron it will be there. Just continue with the project.

8. Lay the sandwich aside to cool while you finish ironing the rest of your leaves.

9. Gently remove the leaves from the waxed paper sheets and they’re ready to Mod Podge.

10. With the used waxed paper sheets to lay your leaves out on, very gently brush Mod Podge on one side and leave on the waxed paper to dry.

11. When the first side is dry, turn the leaves over and apply Mod Podge to the second side. Let dry.

The leaves are slightly flexible and sturdier than when they were just dried.

Now that you know how to preserve fall leaves, you can share leaves with friends who can’t enjoy the changing of the seasons because of where they live, or because they are unable to get outside into nature.

Tips

Apply Mod Podge to the BACK side of the leaf first so if it gets a little messed up when you do the front it won’t matter.

Even when I was very gentle, sometimes parts of the leaf would break off while i was putting the Mod Podge on.

I used a hair dryer on low to help speed the drying process, then left them for an hour or so to finish drying before turning them over.

I really like how beautiful the leaves look! We are one of the places where leaves don’t turn in the fall. Our Oak trees leaves turn in January but the color isn’t as brilliant. Believe me we are happy for a little crisp weather by then!

OMGoodness I love this. The color is so brilliant in the fall and it’s a delight to the senses – great to know how to hang on to that color just a little longer. Thanks for sharing! (Visiting from Super Sunday)

Hi, Noreen, Guess what? I also have a leaf project coming up this week!! I had to search around for colored red leaves, though, since most of ours are still green. I never heard of doing Mod Podge on leaves. I’m trying it this year. The waxed paper thing doesn’t work all the way. I’m glad that you found something that worked. I love the leaves this time of year and hope to keep some around for a while. Take care, Linda

I live in an area with beautiful fall foliage, but I have friends in Hawaii and other places that don’t, so I love this idea to share fall with them. Thank you for sharing it at the Pinworthy Project Party.

What a great idea! I had thought about using some leaves in some of my projects, even thought about using Mod Podge on them but didnt know whether that would work, and just haven’t tried. Never crossed my mind to iron them first. Thank you so much for sharing this technique. Pining!

HELP! I’ve tried ironing the leaves between wax paper but the wax paper does NOT melt onto the leaves????? I have my iron on the highest setting with no steam and I’m using Cut Rite wax paper???? anyone ??

The wax probably has melted onto the leaves and you just can’t see it. I would just assume it has and go ahead with the Mod Podge. Even if it hasn’t, the leaves should be dry enough, and the Mod Podge will preserve them.

We love the gorgeous colors of fall leaves, and my children always bring in piles of them. It’s so sad when they begin to curl and turn brown. They will be so excited to have this project to do this fall and save the vibrant colors for a while. I guess we could attach them to most anything to add a splash of fall color, huh?
Thanks for sharing your fun idea at Wake Up Wednesday!

Well this seems well worth a try! I see in your comments that yours have lasted 2 years, sound good to me. We get fantastic coloured leaves here but they go crispy so quickly, I’m looking forward to giving this a go! Thanks

What a great idea! We have always done the waxed paper and then hung them up in a window so that the sun would shine through like a stained glass window. We will have to try the modge podge. That would be very pretty to be able to display them and not have them dry out!

I have been wanting to do this for several years and I’m determined to try it this year! I love fall leaves so very much I think the tutorial I read years ago said to dip them in beeswax? Because I remember the blogger saying the smell was heavenly. I need to see if I can find that again. I’m interested to try mod podge-hadn’t heard of that method!

Thanks for the mod podge tip. Years ago in my classroom in the beginning of fall we would iron green leaves in between wax paper sheets, ironing around the leaf and then tape them in the window. The young students were able to get a close up, daily look at the leaves changing colors.

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